France welcomes appointment of UN Special Representative for Mali

France on Tuesday welcomed the appointment of Dutchman Albert Koenders as UN Special Representative for Mali.

Koenders will be working closely with France, in particular, because the French currently have military control of Mali after intervening there on January 10 to halt an Islamist-led radical insurgency.

The UN is also to assist with development and reconstruction and should take a leading role in trying to promote reconciliation and democracy in Mali.